“He doesn’t know the meaning of the word fear, but then again he doesn’t know the meaning of most words.”

And

“Discipline to me is sacrifice; it’s willingness to give up something you want to do, so you can better yourself.”

And

“I learned a long time ago that you don’t have to go around using bad language and trying to hurt people to show how macho you are. That stuff won’t get you anywhere, it just shows lack of vocabulary and character.”

And

“The greatest mistake is to continue to practice a mistake.”

And

“I wasn’t afraid of nothing. I was concerned that our opponents. Just picture now. We’re trying to recruit this kid out of Tampa. OK, I go down and see him. An opponent coach comes there and says, ‘Hey, you don’t want to go to Florida State. Bobby Bowden’s got cancer. He’s 77 years old, he’s not going to be alive next year.”

And

“If short hair and good manners won football games, Army and Navy would play for the national championship every year.”

And

“Somehow, I went from being too young, to being too old. Somewhere in there I must have been just right.”

And

“Son, you’ve got a good engine, but your hands aren’t on the steering wheel.”

And

“I am not happy with moral victories. Those things are forgotten.”

And

“I’ve always said it takes more courage to stand back there and throw a ball knowing you’re fixing to get drilled than anything I can think of in football.”

And

“To have the kind of year you want to have, something has to happen that you can’t explain why it happened. Something has to happen that you can’t coach.”

And

“If somebody mistreats you, treat ’em good. That kills ’em.”

And

“I guess I’ll retire someday if I live that long.”

And

“He who gets the best players usually wins.”

And

“Don’t go to the grave with life unused.”

And

“There’s only about 6 inches that turns that halo into a noose.”

And

“But he played Miami. (Bowden on what they might chisel on his headstone)”

And

“You want to know what a real test of faith is? That’s when you go to church and reach into your pocket and all you’ve got is a $20 bill.”

And

“They look so good to me. I’m amazed they’re not on strike.” Bobby Bowden on Florida State losing to the University of Miami during the NFL strike

And

“The Good Lord might not want to take me, but He might be after the pilot.” Bobby Bowden, on his fear of small planes